Wesley Feather the third. excuse me I I want to first thank all the members of the Captain Feather's family for being here and the members of the right Patterson Air Force Base Honor Guard for helping to make this occasion even that much more special. I also wanna thank Miss Dietrich who is the VA North East Ohio Health Care Systems executive director for joining us today, I think that's speaks volumes. Of the VA's dedication to not only our nation's veterans but to their families as well, I've been looking forward to today's ceremony as a for a while now and thankful I have an opportunity to play a part in keeping a captain Feather's memory alive and solidifying his legacy here in Northeastern Ohio. I think I speak for all of us when I say that it's not. it's nice to have something inspiring like this to get us us through these and unprecedented times as we sit with our Mass on So without further ado, I'd like to invite the honor guard to start today's ceremony of by singing the National anthem followed by remarks from the director teacher. Good morning everyone. first off I just wanna thank Congressman Joyce and the feathers and family for including me in this special day, It really does mean a lot and I'd love that I was able to come out here today to celebrate with you at VA Northeast Ohio Health care system. We are proud to honor all veterans from all branches of services and eras, providing the very best health care the fitting of their service to our nation. We are a part of the most comprehensive system of assistance. In the world because as a nation, we understand the service and sacrifice of our nation's heroes sacrifice is not just felt by the service member, though the family sacrifices as well and especially gold star families such as yourself my deepest condolences to you for the loss of your father and your brother today is a celebration of captain fielding feathers and service to our nation. It is honored to be here. Today as we pay tribute to our Ohio native native for his during Vietnam, we may never know what happened to the feathers, but we do know that we will be forever grateful for his sacrifice and his service events like today's ceremony and monuments like Gold Star families. are important to us to help honor the legacy and service and to continue to support the families of our nation's heroes. We at VA are privileged to serve. Honoring their sacrifice and those of their families each and every day well, I know we cannot replace the time lost with your captain Feather. Please know that his service mattered that he will not be forgotten and that we at the VA are here for you. Thank you very much. Thank you director for those kind remarks fielding feathers in the third was born on December third 1942 right here in Lake County. He grew up in Wickliffe attending Wickliffe High School where he the Valedictorian in 1960 in 1963 he chose to serve his country and joined the United States Air Force Captain Featherston bravely served with the 550 fifth Tactical Fighter Squadron, The 430 second. Reconnaissance it was with this crowd that he would fly his last mission on December thirtieth 1960 - nine captain, Featherston and Lieutenant Douglas Ferguson took off in their F FourD Skyway aircraft for an armed reconnaissance mission over Laos during their mission. Their plane went down near an enemy storage facility while nearby aircrafts reported seeing fire and wreckage were kept in Feather's plane crashed. No parachutes were seen and no rescue beeps were Activity in the area precluded the ground search for survivors or remains to this day. Captain Featherston remains one of the nearly 600 Americans lost in Las and his memo memorialized on the course of the missing the National courts of of the National Cemetery of the Pacific. He later became the adopted son of the city of Wickliffe in 1972. - Two captain Feather's story is a reminder that the freedom we enjoy is not free. It is paid. By the brave men and women of our nation's armed forces as a son of a World war two veteran, I know their service often comes with great sacrifice in Washington. I keep my father's Purple Heart and my office to serve as a reminder of the sacrifice that he and so many others like captain feathers and made to this country and what it is to make our country what it is today and remembrance of these heroes. I would ask that we bow our heads for a moment of silence. Although captain Feather's military career was brief, he never failed to demonstrate great courage remarkable leadership and impressive dedication during the six years he actively served in the United States. Air Force Captain Featherston earn more medals than some retired service members earn in decades, including the Silver Star Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Purple Star Medal back in February My office. Contacted by a veteran whose daughter had found these medals among other personal belongings of captain feathers while clearing out an old warehouse in Cleveland after years of being turned away by organizations thought they could help they reached out to my office for assistance We immediately went to work with some research and outreach efforts. our office was able to get in touch with Captain first and West and arranged for the captain's family to be reunited with his long-lost medals and belongings. I want to thank. We'll here from my office who is we're with our office thanks to wounded Warriors project as and he's been helping out veterans only throughout Northeastern Ohio and appreciate your service to Devon. Also, I'm a proud member of the Air Force. I remember correctly. to the feathers and family. I want to again say thank you for being here today and for your sacrifice as director Dietrich mentioned earlier, it's not just our men and women in uniform who bear the burden of their service It's my hope that. Reunited with these medals brings you the comfort and helps the captain Feather's memories at this time, I invite the honor guard to present the captain's medals to mister Featherston. With The congressman. of This is these medals. Captain was. And That concludes today's ceremony again. Thank you all for being here. Thank you. for Devon and what's I'm glad we could finally reunite you with your father's. Thank you medals and memories. Thank you. I appreciate it. Appreciate the effort sir. just have to kind of a long journey. Devon first contacted me in February and saying that he found some personal belongings of my of my dad and that he tracked me down by saying. the information about my son online and called his school and stuff and.